Expert Testimony Details Irreparable Harm from School Closures
Plaintiffs and Community Await U.S. District Judge Mueller’s Decision on a Preliminary Injunction
SACRAMENTO, CA – Today, U.S. District Judge Kimberly J. Mueller listened to plaintiffs make their case about the Sacramento City Unified School District’s (District) intentional discrimination against low-income and minority communities. The hearing focused on two key subjects: how discriminatory policies impact communities throughout Sacramento and the irreparable harm of school closures on these neighborhoods that would necessitate a preliminary injunction.
Despite the defendants’ effort to limit Dr. Jesus Hernandez’s expert testimony in support for an injunction, Judge Mueller permitted Dr. Hernandez to provide his analysis on the racial and socio-economic demographics of the neighborhoods that would be harmed by the District’s closure plans. [it’s not clear that you’re referring to the right-sizing plan and the previous plan by 7/11. you can leave it as is but it’s not clear]. During his testimony, Dr. Hernandez substantiated that “the student population at the closed schools were 80% students of color and up,” whereas schools in affluent, predominately non-minority neighborhoods were removed from closure lists despite ranking among the most under-enrolled. The testimony was not able to include the plaintiffs’ comprehensive analysis that proved the District used frivolous fiscal arguments to justify closing these seven neighborhood schools. In total, the District projected that they would be able to save a little over $900,000 or approximately less than 0.1% of the District’s overall revenues.
Following the expert testimony, the court hearing shifted to a discussion centered on the plaintiffs’ request for a preliminary injunction in order to stop the illegitimate closure of seven neighborhood schools. “Coming into this case, we knew it was going to be an uphill battle since the burden of proof for an injunction is very high,” stated HIP Organizer Nenick Vu. “We hope the Court will recognize that if these schools close, it will have lasting and devastating harm that will impact an entire generation of students in our most vulnerable and impoverished communities.”
Justice Mueller will consider the arguments made during today’s hearing and arrive at a decision on the preliminary injunction early next week.
**HIP is a grassroots-organizing group whose mission is to strengthen the political power of Hmong and disenfranchised communities through innovative civic engagement and strategic grassroots mobilization. We envision a Sacramento of empowered communities that thrive in a socially and economically just democracy.**
On Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/hipsacramento
On Facebook: Hmong Innovating Politics (HIP)
On Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/hipsacramento